What are the benefits of condoms?

Condoms are effective against STDs.

Condoms and internal condoms are the only methods of birth control that also help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections like HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Even if you’re already using a different kind of birth control to avoid pregnancy, it’s a good idea to also use condoms or internal condoms every time you have sex to protect yourself from STDs.

Condoms don’t cost much and are convenient.

Condoms are super easy to get from many different stores, community health centers, Planned Parenthood health centers, and online. You don’t need a prescription or ID to buy them, and they’re inexpensive (or sometimes even free). Condoms are a small, discreet, and portable way to get big protection from pregnancy and STDs.

Condoms can be sexy.

Protection is important, but so is pleasure. Luckily, condoms offer both!

Condoms come in lots of different styles, shapes, and textures that increase sensation for both partners. And having your partner put the condom on your penis can be a sexy part of foreplay, especially if you add lube. Condoms can even delay ejaculation (cumming), so sex lasts longer.

You can use condoms for oral, anal, and vaginal sex, so they protect you from STDs no matter how you get down. And that’s really the sexiest part of all: condoms let you focus on pleasure and your partner without worrying about pregnancy or STDs. Safer sex is better sex because it stops stress from killing the mood.

Condoms help other methods of birth control work even better.

Adding condoms to your birth control lineup can give you extra pregnancy protection. No method is 100% effective, so adding condoms as a backup helps you prevent pregnancy if you make a mistake with your other method or it fails. And it’s a good idea to use condoms to help protect yourself against STDs as well.

Condoms can add extra protection to almost all other birth control methods, like the pill, shot, ring, IUD, and implant. However, don’t use the internal condom and male condom together, and there’s no need to wear more than one condom at a time. One should do the trick.

Condoms have no side effects.

Most people can use condoms with no problem — there are no side effects. Rarely, latex (rubber) condoms can cause irritation for people with latex allergies or sensitivities. And sometimes the lube on certain types of condoms may be irritating.

If you’re allergic to latex, try switching brands or using plastic condoms. Condoms and internal condoms made from soft plastics like polyurethane, polyisoprene, and nitrile are latex-free. You can get non-latex condoms in most of the same places where standard condoms are sold.